Wildfires break out in southern California

PAUL CHAVEZAssociated Press Writer

Published Thursday, October 23, 2003

LOS ANGELES -- High temperatures helped spur four wildfires in Southern California, including a fast-moving arson blaze that destroyed six homes in the Reche Canyon area of Riverside County, officials said.

The hot weather also stoked fires in Fontana, Camp Pendleton and the hills above Burbank.

The blaze in Reche Canyon was reported Tuesday afternoon and by early Wednesday had burned at least 1,000 acres, said Becky Luther, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry. Investigators determined that it was set, he said.

It destroyed six homes and on Wednesday it was threatening about 100 homes, said CDF Capt. Rick Vogt. The blaze was 10 percent contained, he said.

Mark Josephson and his friends and family members fought alongside firefighters as the blaze threatened his Reche Canyon home. He had 12 horses, a goat and several sheep on his property, and the neighing of frightened horses could be heard above the din of helicopters.

"Flames came within a foot of the house," Josephson said. "We didn't lose anything."

Evacuations were ordered and about a dozen residents spent the night in a nearby school, Vogt said. More than 530 firefighters were battling the blaze and one firefighter suffered from smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries, Vogt said.

Southern California has experienced record, triple-digit temperatures in recent days and the warm weather is expected to continue for the next few days. A high of 95 was forecast Wednesday in Riverside.

To the northeast, another wildfire charred 2,000 acres at the far north end of Fontana in San Bernardino County. The blaze, which was burning away from homes, was under investigation, said Bill Peters, a CDF spokesman.

In the hills above Burbank, a suspicious wildfire covered about 100 acres, said Dave Starr, spokesman for the Burbank Fire Department. Crews expected to have the blaze contained Wednesday.

A brush fire at Camp Pendleton blackened more than 1,000 acres in an uninhabited area used for training exercises at the Marine base. Authorities said the blaze was apparently started by ammunition.